SHIP LIST FOR NEWPORT NEWS AUGUST 11, 1918 TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918

Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co 1915 a little before the war.

Animal shipments from Newport News were divided into 2 phases. The first phase extended from October 15 1917 to May 4 1918. During the period 28,473 animals were shipped with a total loss from all cases of 463 animals or 1.6 percent.

Note: I have decided to post what I do have of the first phase of animals shipped to France from Newport News. The below list of ships is the second page of the list. I am still missing the first page of this report. If anyone has the first page of the report please contact me.

FIRST PHASE

The first phase extended from October 15 1917 to May 4 1918. During the period 28,473 animals were shipped with a total loss from all cases of 463 animals or 1.6 percent.

SS MEXICAN
Embarked February 4 1918, disembarked unknown at this time, in first page of this report, 1057 animals on board, animals destroyed or died 12, sick or injured 0, Transport Captain Donald B Palmer 42nd Division (Acting)

SECOND PHASE

Below in the second phase of the shipments from Newport News extended from August 11 1918 to November 30 1918. By this time the plan of a permanent transport veterinarian and veterinary detachment was in operation. The return of the detachment made it possible to retain in use the fittings, which had been formerly thrown aside on arrival in France and also ensured a well cleaned boat for the next cargo. At the same time more complete and reliable reports of conditions were received.

Totals for 2nd Phase, animals transported 18,784, 49 destroyed or died and 75 sick or injured

CONTINUING RESEARCH BY BRENDA BARBIAN ON THE PORT OF NEWPORT NEWS

I received the below information from Brenda on Newport News that she had collected and is now sharing with us. Brenda has done a lot of research over the years and in the future as she has time she will be posting some of her research. This is a great addition for the website and I am very grateful for her help

Hi Greg

I have had this information for about 5 years in my files and now that I am retired I have more time to work on it. I pulled my information out because and I going to give a program to my Bethel Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in January or February. What I have is copies of articles from our local paper during the years 1914, 1915 and 1916. I am going to type out some of the information I have in this e-mail but I think since I have 33 documents I need to work out something for you.

Take Care

Brenda

DAILY PRESS - NOVEMBER 25, 1914

2,000 HORSES FOR WAR ZONE HERE TO BE SHIPPED

Two thousand horses, intended for the European war zone, arrived here yesterday via the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. A part of that number are being loaded on the steamer Raeburn and the others will be loaded on a steamer expected to arrive here later in the week.

Desiring to free themselves from curious and prying outsiders, who made life miserable yesterday for those handling the shipments, the railway company announced last night that none, other than those having business with the company, will be allowed on the piers or at the stock yards and cattle pens.

DAILY PRESS, FEBRUARY 19, 1916

300,000 HORSES AND 30,000 MULES SHIPPED ABROAD

Newport News has sent Millions of Dollars Worth of Animals to War Zone, Continue Business

After April 1, Newport News will be the only port in North America from which horses will be shipped by the British Government.

According to authoritative information the depots at Montreal, New York, Portland and New Orleans will be discontinued.

While the above information comes from a reliable source, the Chesapeake and Ohio and British officials here would have no comment to make when questioned about the matter yesterday.

It is stated that the discontinuance of shipments from other ports than Newport News is due to the fact that Great Britain now has horses and mules to a sufficient number, and in as much as the ships are needed for the transportation of food and war materials this action is taken.

It is expected that a dozen ships will clear this port with horses and mules for the British government before the order becomes effective. After shipments from here will be nominal, although the remount station will be kept open and in charge of Major Barry.

Since the war began more than 300,000 horses and 30,000 mules have been shipped from Newport News.

So Greg, this is 2 of the articles that I found. I am going to do some more research in the weeks to come but the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays will keep me from doing but so much. I know I have a article around here somewhere about a building that stored grain that burned down but I have not been able to find it yet.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS LEASED WIRE) JANUARY 18, 1918

THOUSANDS OF HORSES ARE DEAD

WASHINGTON, January 18---During the last six weeks the army remount service has lost 6,775 horses and mules, valued at $835,916, says an announcement made public today

The greater proportion of these deaths, it is said, resulted from influenza, and its complications.

The announcement stated that since the war was declared the strength of the army in animals has been increased from 60,145 to 344,000, and the veterinary corps and remount service have also been greatly increased.

The personnel of the veterinary corps alone has jumped from 64 officers and no enlisted men to about a thousand officers and enlisted men are being secured at such a rate that the quota of 12,000 is expected soon to be reached.

The remount service has a strength of 300 officers and 11,000 enlisted men, formerly consisting of one officer and four clerks in Washington with a small personnel and purchasing organization in the field.

This morning at 7:30 the transport Orizaba, bringing more units of the Eighty-First, or Wildcat Division, will unload her men at Pier 4, having been delayed a day in her schedule. She passed the capes last night at midnight, and was anchored in Hampton Roads until last morning.

The Siboney, which sailed from France with the Orizaba, has also been delayed, and is expected to pass through the Capes sometime today, and may dock here late this afternoon. She has units of the Wildcat Division, also on board.

Note: the above information is one of the most complete reports of transport ships coming home from the war that I have seen, it gives us a lot of great information. I will be posting the newspaper articles on the main pages of the website under the listed VC Hospitals. Further research is needed on what transport VC No 4 came home on because I have newspaper articles that state VC No 4 came home on the Transport Scranton, I feel Brenda's information is correct.

FOUR TRANSPORTS HERE YESTERDAY, THOUSANDS OF TROOPS CELEBRATED FOURTH BY COMING HOME

Daily Press, July 5, 1919

Four transports arrived here yesterday, while two others were just outside of the harbor and making their way to port last night. The General Georgas, Rhode Island, Orizaba and El Oriente arrived, bringing an aggregate of 8,800 men, while the two shops on their way have almost 5,000 other war veterans on board.

The General Georgas sailed from Bordeaux June 30, and is bringing 1,000 men, including Depot Service Company 27, the 44th, 51st, 847th and 166th Company Transportation Corps, Field Remount Squadron 338, 28th and 39th Companies, 20th Engineers, and the 315th Motor Transport Company, making a total of 2,000 men. She was followed by the El Oriente from Bordeaux, June 24, with 76 military prisoners, 346th Service Battalion, Depot Service Company 12, and a number of casuals.

The Orizaba, which arrived late yesterday and discharged her men, at the army base in Norfolk, had on board the 807th Pioneer Infantry, 525th Engineers, and other detachments, making a total of 4,000 men.

Brenda

Hi Greg,

Newport News and New York were the two major ports of embarkation in World War I.

In all, 261,820 soldiers of the American Expeditionary forces embarked for Europe from Chesapeake and Ohio Railway piers at Newport News. On the return, 441,146 soldiers debarked at the terminal.

The City of Newport News local paper had one newspaper but the morning paper was the Daily Press and the afternoon was the Times Herald. Much later the paper was the Daily Press and the Times Herald and now it is the Daily Press. Our paper is a wonderful resource and names many battalions, infantries,engineers, postal, bakery, batteries, field artillery, casual companies, medical detachments, supply, etc. The following article appeared in the City of Newport News, Virginia's Times Herald. This article is very large so I will only include the last paragraph.

AFTER PAYSANDU UNLOADED HER 1,300 WARRIORS THIS MORNING THERE HAD MARCHED THROUGH CITY IN 48 HOURS 17,000 MEN

FINLAND BRINGS WESTERNERS.

TIMES HERALD, JUNE 2, 1919, MONDAY, PAGE 1

The Finland arrived also yesterday afternoon, bringing the 143rd Infantry complete, of the 66th Division, Texas and Oklahoma men. They numbered 94 officers and 3,104 men, in command of Colonel Irving J. Phillipson, of Portland, Oregon. Also, on the vessel were the 111th Mobile Repair Shop; 113th Mobile Veterinary section and casual companies No's 1 and 2, of the 319th Infantry, with 9 officers and 350 men. There were sixty casuals sent over for duty.

I feel that the person who wrote these many articles was a kindred spirit as he was precise and included so many details for the future.

Brenda Barbian

THANK YOU BRENDA! GREG

NEWPORT NEWS ARTICLE: ANIMAL DEBARKATION DEPOT 1918:

"Following the lead of a British Remount Depot that shipped nearly 500,000 horses and mules from Newport News during World War I, the Quartermaster Corps builds a 77-acre complex of pens and stalls just north of the city to supply the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Twice as large as...Mark St. John Erickson"

Title: An Epic Stream of American War Horses and Mules Flowed from World War I Newport News

Note: Mark Erickson contacted me in October 2014 seeking information. This is a great article about the animals that embarked from Newport New during World War I. – Greg Krenzelok – U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group

NOTE: The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Group covers research in many more areas preserving our military history.

U.S. ARMY VETERINARY CORPS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GROUP

Motto: “Illic est Vires in Numerus” There is Strength in Numbers

“Working Hard to Preserve Our Country’s History wherever it is being lost”

U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group is a group of individuals that are concerned about the preservation of the History of the Veterinary Corps, Remount Service and Cavalry or wherever our country’s history is being lost in conjunction with our beloved “Horse and Mule”. There is no cost to join and membership is for life. We believe by uniting together in numbers we will be a more powerful force to be heard. Our membership list is private and only used to contact our members. Email us and become a member.